Based on comments made by players, agents, and team officials throughout recent years, it's obvious that a certain amount of tampering occurs with guys still under contract to other teams. So it comes as a surprise that the NFL has slapped the wrist of the San Francisco 49ers in regard to accusations that they tampered with Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs during the 2007 season.

It comes as even more of a surprise that they chose this particular incident to start cracking down on illegal contact between teams and players if details of a report from Kevin Lynch of the San Francisco Chronicle are accurate. If Lynch's sources are to be believed (and we have no reason to believe they shouldn't be), proof of tampering consisted of only a phone record showing phone communications between the Niners and Briggs' agent, Drew Rosenhaus. Apparently no details of the conversations were entered as evidence and Rosenhaus did not testify at the hearing. Since Rosenhaus represents many players, including the 49ers' own Frank Gore, it seems this evidence, without details of the conversations, falls short of proving any wrongdoing.

As a result of the league's investigation, San Francisco was ordered to swap third-round draft picks with the Bears this year, and they were stripped of their fifth-round pick. It's understandable that the 49ers would be punished with the loss of a draft pick or two if they, in fact, did contact Briggs' agent. But I'm a bit surprised the Bears were awarded compensation in this case as well. It would appear they didn't suffer any direct damages due to the 49ers tampering since they were able to keep Briggs at what many perceived to be a bargain price, so why reward the Bears if their opportunity to retain Briggs wasn't significantly hurt by the contact?

Either the NFL overstepped here, or all the details of this case have not come out.

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